Wrestlers seek higher level at nationals


Thursday, March 19, 1998	Wrestlers seek higher level at nationals By AARON BASTIDE Collegian Sports Writer Since the beginning of the season, Penn State wrestling coach John Fritz has maintained one goal for his team. "To consistently improve, to get a little bit better each time," he said. "And the ultimate goal is to be peaking, to be at your best, at the end of the season for the NCAAs."
`Penn State Wrestling Home Page`	Now it's time to see if the goal has been realized. The NCAA Wrestling Championships begins at 10 a.m. today at Cleveland State University, and No. 3 Penn State is one of the favorites to take first place. But the Nittany Lions will have to achieve peak performance in order to defeat powerhouses like No. 2 Iowa, No. 4 Minnesota and No. 1 Oklahoma State. "What they have to do now is take it to the next level," Fritz said. "If they do that good things will happen."
`Official 1998 NCAA Wrestling Championships Home Page`	Last year's NCAA Championships, which took place in Cedar Falls, Iowa, was an event where not many good things happened to Penn State. The Lions finished 10th, which was a major disappointment for many of the wrestlers. However, Biff Walizer, who will compete at 134 pounds, said the team isn't concerned with last year's tournament. "No, I don't think anybody's even talking about that," Walizer said. "That was last year's tournament and this is a whole new tournament. We know this is the big tournament, and what we want to do is win this one."
Penn State wrestler Glenn Pritzlaff hauls down his Clarion opponent at Rec Hall earlier this season. Pritzlaff and the Lions are in Cleveland for the NCAA Championships, which begin today at 10 a.m. today at Cleveland State University. (Collegian Photo/Shawn Knapp - click for full size image)	One factor that may help Penn State this year is that the tournament is taking place at a neutral site. Last year, a large contingent of enthusiastic Iowa fans cheered the Hawkeyes to victory. Fritz said a partisan crowd can help determine the outcome of a match. "I think it definitely plays a part," he said. "These are usually the kind of matches that are decided by one or a few points, and the crowd could be the difference. "It's kind of a plus not to be in Iowa. I think it could play a factor." Walizer agreed that a cheering crowd can make a difference. "It definitely pumps you up," he said. "It showed at the Big Ten Tournament when we had our fans behind us. This year there won't be as many Iowa fans there screaming and yelling."
Nittany Lion grappler Glen Pritzlaff holds on to a Clarion opponent in a meet earlier in the season. Penn State hopes to build on its strong showing in the Big Ten Championships when it heads to the NCAA Championships in Cleveland starting today. (Collegian Photo/Shawn Knapp - click for full size image)	Penn State will try to win with a balanced attack. The Lions will bring nine wrestlers into the tournament, but not a single All-American. Fritz said he is counting on all nine wrestlers to peak at this year's tournament, but he singled out 118 pounder Jeremy Hunter, Jamarr Billman (142), Clint Musser (150), and Glenn Pritzlaff (167) as individuals he wants to "take it to the next level." "Those are the guys that have proven to be the best all year long," Fritz said. "Any of them could be right there." Walizer understands he'll have to do some of the best wrestling he's ever done in order to win a national championship. But then again, that's what he's been training to do all season. "It's a long season, you can get run down if you're not careful. But I think we're feeling fresh and ready," he said. "This is the ultimate goal, performing well in the NCAA Tournament."